Fire extension-ladder



(No Model.) 4 I H. T. HAYES.

FIRE EXTENSION LADDER.

,No. 396,565. Patented Jan. 22,1889;

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UNITED STATES ATENT GFFICE.

HENRY T. HAYES, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE EXTENSION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,565, dated January 22, 1889.

Application filed June 15, 1888. Serial No. 277,240. CNo model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY T. HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Fire-Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, reference being had to the drawings that accompany and form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of fire-ladders which are mounted on wheeled trucks and are raised and lowered on a hinge or pivot by mechanical means.

The features of this improvement consist in certain novel construction and arrangement of hinge or pivot by means of which I am enabled to bring the ladder closely down to the truck-frame when occupying a horizontal position, thereby securing several advantages that contribute to the general stability and safety of the apparatus when in rapid motion; also, in certain construction and combination of mechanism to raise, lower, and hold the ladder in position.

The nature of these improvements and the manner in which I proceed to construct, produce, combine, and apply them are fully explained in the following description, the accompanying drawings being referred to by figures and letters.

In the class of fire apparatus for which these improvements are particularly intended the main ladder is hinged or pivoted at the foot to the turn-table that is set over the front axle of the truck, while the upper end of the ladder rests over the rear axle when the ladder is turned down to the horizontal position. I11 this position, and particularly when being drawn rapidly through the streets of a city, in making sharp turns to avoid vehicles in the road, and in turning corners, it will be evident that the general stability and safety of the apparatus will be increased in proportion as the height of the structure is reduced and the weight of the main ladder brought nearer to the axles of the truck; and therefore, by bringing the main or principal and heaviest ladder closer to the truck-frame when turned down, I am enabled to secure these conditions and otherwise improve fire-ladders of this class.

In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, the front end of a truck-frame with the ladder lunged to the turn-table according to my invention, and also the lifting an d lowerlng mechanism. 1* 1g.

'2 is a view taken from the front end of the truck. Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference are used to denote like parts in these figures.

A A are the side bars of the truck-frame, and B the turn-table.

C is the main ladder of the truck, and D is the pivot or center on which the ladder is mounted.

E E are the bearings for the pivot, which are set at suitable distance above the turntable to afford room beneath the pivot for the lifting mechanism to work.

0 is a bend or lateral extension of the foot of the ladder, which is carried substantially at right angle to the plane of the ladder, and is of suitable length to extend from the pivot down quite close to the truck-frame when the ladder sets horizontally. As will be understood from the drawings, this lateral bend or extension takes the pivot, so that this latter point is considerably above the plane of the ladder, and sufficient space is provided under it for the lifting mechanism, while the ladder itself is brought quite close to the truck when. in the horizontal position. From the front side of the pivot these extensions-or bent portions one at the end of each side bar or rail of the ladderare carried forward at an angle to produce the arms C and these last-named parts, being made of suitable length to give the necessary amount of leverage, are connected by two long links, G G, with a traveling nut, H, on the screw I, by means of which the ladder is raised and held at greater or less angle above the horizontal for use. In forming this end portion Fig. 3 is a part plan or top view of of the ladder, I prefer to make the parts C and C in one piece, or as a single structure, instead of securing the arms C separately to the rod that forms the pivot, although in some cases it-could be done-as in applying this construction to light-weight laddersand so it is recommended to frame or make the parts 0 C as one structure. Each side bar of the ladder is thus attached to the pivot by an angle-piece, 0' O and the lifting mechanism is applied to that end or member opposite to which the ladder is fixed.

C is an eye or knuckle at the junction of the two members to take the pivot I), and G" is an eye at the outer end of the arm 0 for the knuckle of the link.

The nut H has trunnions h h on the two sides, and the links G G extend from the arms to the nut, where they take the trunnions, suitable eyes, g, being formed on the lower ends of the links. By this construction and arrangement the weight of the ladder is brought equally upon opposite sides of the nut, so that the power of a single screw is sufficient to hold the ladder in position, as well as to raise it into position.

It should be stated that such arrangement of screw and traveling nut has long been used for raising and loweringhinged ladders, and consequently this principle of working the ladder is not claimed as being novel with me except in so far as it is combined and arranged with the other parts before described, and with the means for taking the upward strain from the screw and causing the nut to run easily. This last-named feature consists of a guide-rail, K, strengthened by a top web and fixed over and in line with the screw, and a roller, L, set in between lugs I] d on the top of the nut, the space between the lugs being made about equal to the thickness or breadth of the rail, so that the lugs ride up on the sides of the rail. The ends of this rail are By this means the upward strain is taken from the screw in greater part, and the nut is guided and made to run Without danger of binding.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1; In combination with a fire-ladder of the hinged or pivoted kind, the angle-pieces on the foot of the ladder, having the pivot D at the angle, and the ladder-beams secured at one end of the angle-pieces to lie close down upon the turn-table, suitable supports on the turn rtable adapted to support the pivot above the turn-table, and lifting mechanism consisting, essentially, of the screw I and traveling nut H and connecting-links G G, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. In an extension-ladder which is mounted for use on a truck, substantially as described, the combination of the supports for the pivot I), the angle-pieces composed of the parts C, adapted to be secured to the foot of the ladder and having the pivot D at the end, and the arms C extending forward and on the opposite side of the pivot and attached at their outer ends to a lifting mechanism, as a screw and traveling nut, arranged for operation as set forth.

3. In an extension-ladder of the hinged or pivoted kind, the lifting mechanism consisting of the screw I, the traveling nut H, having the recess and friction-roller L', and1the guide-rail K, arranged for operation substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the, foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

l-IENRY 'l. HAYES. [L. s]

\Vitnesscs:

C. V. M. SMITH, R. H. PEAT. 

